Feeding mechanism



Oct. 5, 1965 E. s. GoDLEwsKl 3,210,073

FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Deo. 3, 1962 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,210,073 FEEDING MECHANISM Edward S. Godlewski, Melrose Park, lll. (531 W. Walnut St., Des Plaines, lll.) Filed Dec. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,606 12 Claims. (Cl. 271-36) This invention pertains to feeding mechanisms and more paiticularly to a precision feeder for accurately dispensing single or several articles such as sheets of paper, or cards particularly for collating or into presses and the like.

Various instrumentalities have been provided with varying success to accurately feed paper stock and the like from a supply source such as a magazine. Complex equipment is not only costly but also usual-ly requires extensive adjustment and in general is susceptible to breakdowns. In addition, I have no knowledge of any feeding mechanism which is capable of handling cards or paper stock which has areas of uneven thickness such as develop because of embossments or where glitter is glued It is a principal object of my invention to provide a novel feeder which includes a magazine at the exit of which is located a feeder roll having along its length segments of different yield and frictional characteristics, said segments being individually adjustable with respect to opposing retard-s `which develop Ian intake nip therewith for handling stock of uneven thickness.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel feeder which comprises at the discharge end of the magazine or chute a plurality of yieldably mounted guide iingers which are adapted to guide the material into the intake nip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel feed roller comprising a plurality of feed wheels with rubber boots and other wheels with sponge boots of rubber or plastic such as polyurethene or the like.

The invention comprehends a novel feed mechanism incorporating an adjustment for the feed tray as well as the feed roller and retards.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the novel feeder;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken essentially on line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a section 2 of a collating device generally indicated 3 and ywhich may be as shown in my U.S. Patent 3,054,612.

Each section 2 comprises a tray 4 having upstanding lateral sides of flanges 5 flanking a bottom wall 6 which is sloped downwardly. The bottom wall 6 is pivoted through a lug 7 to a vertically adjustable support rod 8 which serves to govern the inclinati-on of the tray or chute 4.

The flanges 5 depend below the wall 6 and at the lower end of wall 6 support a rod or pivot member 10 which pivotally mounts a plurality of yieldably supported guide fingers 11.

Each finger 11 presents a top surface 12 which extends as a continuation of the top surface 13 of the bottom wall Frice 6. Each finger 11 terminates lat its lower end in a sharp beveled edge which yoverlies its respective retarder disc 15 and feeds the articles 16 on the tray, which as shown may be greeting cards or the like, into the intake nip 17 developed with the feed-roller 18.

Each retarder 15 comprises an annular structure having a peripheral portion 18 of elastomer material, such as natural orsynthetic rubber, bonded to a metallic core 19 which is secured by a nut and bolt assembly 20 to the ears 21, 21 of a mounting bracket 22, the ears 21'supporting assembly 20 horizontally and being integrated with a body portion 24 which is pivoted on an eccentric -rod or shaft 25 through a generally horizontally elongated slot 26 in the body portion 24.

The slot 26 is dened by the upper and lower segments 27, 28 and end segments 29,'30of the body block 24 and the segments 27, 28 present respectively reaction surfaces 32, 33 between which is snugly-admitted a cylindrical rod section 34 which has its periphery 35 engaging surfaces 32, 33. The ends of rod 25 are eccentric to sections 34 and journaled to upright walls 36, 36 ofthe collators framework 37. Rotation of the rod 25 controls the movement of the retarders in unison toward and away with respect to the feed roller. Incremental individual adjustment of each retarder is accomplished by means of a set screw 38 which is threaded through the end segment 30 of the respective bracket 22, the shank 39 of the screw 38 bearing at l0-against the eccentric 34 and horizontally diametrically opposing a coil spring 41 which seats at 42 against the opposite side of the veccentric 34 and is pocketed as at 43 within the block segment 29.

The block portion 24 also supports and pockets the lower end 44 of a linger support spring 45 which at its upper end enters into a pocket 46 in the overhanging nger 11 which it supports.

The set screw 38 is locked by a locking nut 47 threaded on the shank 39 andl tightened against the back side of the rear portion 30 of the block. Advancing the screw 38 compresses the spring 41 and moves the retarder away from the feed roller thus opening-the gap or intake nip 17 therebetween and by retractingl the screw the spring 41 expands and advances the retarder toward the feed roller. These adjustments are in a horizontal plane.

Vertical adjustment is accomplished of all of the retarders simultaneously by an eccentric rod 50 journalled in the walls 36 beneath the brackets 22, the rod 50 engaging the undersides 51 of the heads 52 of the individual adjusting means which comprises a bolt having a shank 53 threaded through the block portion 24. The upper end of shank 53 is slotted at 54 to admit a screwdriver to permit rotation of shank 53. A locking nut 55 is threaded on the shank 53 and engages the block 24.

The reason for providing individual and collective adjustment arises from the nature `of the articles being handled. In greeting cards such as Christmas cards, many have raised embossments or glitter adhered theretol in various areas. Thus the thickness of the cards vary from area to area and to provide proper feed it is necessary to individually vary the spacing of each retarder with respect to its opposing roller segment or disc 56, 57, 58 or 59, there being four shown in the instant rollers structure 18. Also discs 56, 59 are identical and discs 57, 58 are the same.

The roller structure 18 comprises a center shaft 60 suitably journaled in walls 36 and driven from a suitable power source as shown in my beforementioned patent or as shown and described in my copending U.S; application.

As seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawings there are provided three axially spaced end mounting discs 61, 61 and intermediate disc 62, which are respectively secured to shaft 60 by set screws 64, 64 and 65.

The center disc 62 is flanked by a pair of rings 67, 67 which, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 4, are spaced axially from their mounting disc 62 and secured thereto at circumferentially spaced points by the threaded rods 68, 69. The rod 68 has a fixed axis of mounting to disc 62 (that is opening 70 in disc 62 is close fitting to rod 68) and serves as a pivot about which the rings 67 are swingable, said rings 67 having large center apertures 71 admitting shaft 60 therethrough, said apertures accommodating limited swinging movement of the rings 67 about the rod 68, it being understood that the rod 69 extends through an arcuate slot 72 in disc 62 diametrically opposite pivot opening 70. Each ring is provided with a sector 73 preferably of elastomer material such as natural or synthetic rubber or equivalent suitably secured to the exterior of the ring as by bonding or otherwise. Preferably these segments 73 are disposed between the axis of pivot of the ring and the securing shaft 69.

It will be noted that the rods 68 and 69 are provided with nuts 74 and 75 which embrace the center disc as well as the rings to space the rings in radial alignment with the respective rctarders and also to secure and hold the rings in radially adjusted position with respect to the retarders.

In the present embodiment of the invention the rings are provided with the rubber segments of medium hardness and these are intended to function as grippers against the cards 16 for feeding them under the feed roll.

In addition to the feed wheels, the feed roller 56, 59 is provided with helper end wheels which flank the end discs 61, 61. Each wheel 56, 59 comprises a ring 77 which is axially spaced from and adjustably secured to its associated mounting disc by the diametrically spaced bolts 78, 78 and the nuts 79, 79 thereon. The rings 77 are each provided on their peripheries with a soft spongelike segment of rubber or elastomer material but preferably of sponge-like polyethylene or polyurethene. These segments serve to assist in feeding the cards to the feed wheels which obtain a positive grasp. The soft material eliminates marking of the cards and easily passes embossments or glitter therebeneath. It will be noted that the radial extent of all of the elastomer segment on all four Wheels extend radially beyond the peripheries of their mounting rings and that the radial extent of the helper segment is slightly greater than that of the feeder segments.

Thus the feeder wheels are adjustable toward and away with respect to the associated retarders to feed cards of different thickness onto the feed deck and into the pullout rollers 80, 81 which are suitably journalled from the walls 36, 36 and driven by recognized means. Rod 10 is carried from walls 36.

It will be readily understood that various forms of the invention will become readily apparent from the foregoing disclosure in view of the appended claims.

It will be understood that at least one retard opposes the disc 62, although other retards may be used opposing discs 61, and act as a gauge to insure that single cards or stock will feed through.

I claim:

1. A feeding device comprising a tray having an inclined bottom terminating in a lower delivery edge, a plurality of guide fingers disposed in extension of said edge and movable with respect to said bottom and having ends, spring means individually supporting each finger, and a retard support beneath each finger supporting the related spring means and movable transversely and axially thereof for adjusting the same coincidental to adjustment of the retard.

2, The invention according to claim 1 and said retard support comprising a bracket, a retard disc mounted at one end thereto beneath the free end of the associated nger, and eccentric means engageable with said bracket for adjusting the same as aforesaid, and said adjusting means acting transversely of the spring means including yieldable means between the bracket and the last-mentioned adjusting means accommodating movement of the retard with the bracket toward the said last-mentioned adjusting means.

3. In a retard mounting for a feeding mechanism, a bracket, a retard roller mounted upon one end of the bracket, said bracket having a generally horizontal elongated aperture therein, a-n eccentric extending through the aperture and adjustable about a generally horizontal axis, spring means interposed between the eccentric and a portion of the bracket between the eccentric and the retard yieldably urging the retard away from the eccentric and accommodating retracting movement of the retard toward the eccentric.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and vertical adjusting means comprising a reaction element spaced vertically from the bracket, and an adjusting member interposed between said element and the bracket and relatively movable therewith to accomodate movement of the adjusting member.

5. In a feeder, the combination of a tray having a bottom terminating in a discharge edge, guide means disposed in extension of the bottom and having free ends, retard means beneath the guide means outwardly of said free ends thereof, a feed roller opposing the retard means and developing an intake nip for discharging articles from said guide means, said feed roller comprising a shaft and a plurality of axially spaced segments of varying gripping character, and means eccentrically mounting said segments on the shaft and adjustable to position said segments varying distances from the axis of rotation `of the shaft to obtain a profile on the roller to complement varying thicknesses of material being fed between the roller along the length thereof and said retard means.

6. The invention according to claim 5 and said retard means opposing each segment, and means individually adjusting each retard means with respect to its opposing segment and guide means.

7. A feed roller comprising a center shaft, a plurality of mounting elements thereon and constrained for rotation therewith, feeder members alongside respective mounting elements, and having peripheral segments of friction material thereon, and adjustable means connecting said members to respective elements and through selective adjustment positioning the related member axially and radially with respect to the shaft to provide a roller having a varying peripheral contour.

8. The invention according to claim 7 and said members being in the form of rings and having large center openings admitting the shaft therethrough and said connecting means providing the axis of pivot for the rings eccentric with respect to the shaft, and said segments of friction material being disposed diametrically opposite said axis of pivot.

9. In a feeding mechanism, a material magazine having an exit, a plurality of retards spaced along the width of the exit for restraining the discharge of the material therefrom, a feed roller opposing the retards and forming an intake nip therewith, said roller having a center shaft and a plurality of sections thereon opposing respective retards, and means adjustably mounting the sections to the shaft for adjusting the spacing of each section to its retard to accommodate articles of predetermined varying thicknesses along its extent coincident with that of the roller.

10. The invention according to claim 9 and certain of said sections having segments of elastomer thereon of medium hardness and other of the sections having segments of elastomer thereon of sponge-like character.

11. The invention according to claim 10 and said sponge-like segments exten-ding radially outwardly farther than said segments of medium hardness.

3,210,073 5 6 12. In a feed roller, a shaft, a disc connected thereto, References Cited by the Examiner a feed Wheel alongside said disc, a pivot extending gen- UNITED STATES PATENTS eral-ly parallel to the shaft interconnecting the disc with the Wheel for adjusting movements by the latter about an 11443430 1/23 Olgay 271-36 axis displaced from the shaft, locking means interconnect- 5 21665 9 06 1/54 Johnson 271-36 ing the wheel and disc for holding the Wheel in adjusted position with respect to the disc, and a segment of elas- ROBERT B' REEVES Acting Pnmary Examiner tomer material alxed to the wheel. ROBERT E. PULFREY, Examiner. 

1. A FEEDING DEVICE COMPRISING A TRAY HAVING AN INCLINED BOTTOM TERMINATING IN A LOWER DELIVERY EDGE, AN PLURALITY OF GUIDE FINGERSZ DISPOSED IN EXTENSION OF SAID EDGE AND MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BOTTOM AND HAVING ENDS, SPRING MEANS INDIVIDUALLY SUPPORTING EACH FINGER, AND A RETARD SUPPORT BENEATH EACH FINGER SUPPORTING THE RELATED SPRING MEANS AND MOVABLE TRANSVERSELY AND AXIALLY THEREOF FOR ADJUSTING THE SAME COINCIDENTAL TO ADJUSTMENT OF THE RETARD. 